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Comments Posted By agrippa

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The Cruz-Kasich “Alliance of the Losers” Perfectly Represents the GOP

I will have no trouble voting for Clinton; I will not hold my nose doing it.
I understand that some people dislike/despise Clinton and think that she is some sort of corrupt __________.
I actually respect the woman. Wonders never cease.

» Posted By agrippa On April 27, 2016 @ 6:53 pm

Weekend Music Thread – Nature’s Way

» Posted By agrippa On April 23, 2016 @ 9:04 am

» Posted By agrippa On April 23, 2016 @ 9:00 am

» Posted By agrippa On April 23, 2016 @ 8:57 am

» Posted By agrippa On April 23, 2016 @ 8:55 am

Nobody Wants To Be The Bad Guy – Political Conversation In The 21st Century

I make the joke that the “average politician is mediocre”.
It would be a significant improvement if the small number of ordinary citizens who pay attention and are well informed were doubled in numbers ( for example from 1% to 2%.)
It would help if people doubled the amount of time they spend, in a week, on public affairs.

There is a ladder of participation; from the ordinary citizen being informed up to and including getting elected to office. Every step of that ladder needs far more ordinary people participating.

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/civics

Above is an article about civics education in the USA,

In a way, it is by design. The US Constitution is for a Republic. The legitimacy of a republic rests with the people. But, there was, then, a fear of democracy. The writers feared both ends – a fear of tyranny and a fear of democracy. The constitution was written with those two fears firmly in mind.

You may think of the writing of the Constitution as a second American revolution.
The Civil War was a third Revolution.

» Posted By agrippa On April 20, 2016 @ 5:26 am

adlib,

I live in a state where Democrats are in a permanent minority. I do not know any Democrats, never mind progressives/Sanders supporters. Not very many old white men voted Dem in Texas.

I hope that people come around and that GOTV is effective. Both need to happen.

And, you cannot go by the internet. Political websites on line tend to be an echo chamber; and, where they are not, anonymous poison pen letters are endemic.

I, definitely want to see much more – and much better – participation by ordinary people. If that happened, I think that we would get better politics.

Many years ago, I participated in organized Dem politics at the county level. There were few participants and most ordinary people did not care.

» Posted By agrippa On April 19, 2016 @ 6:12 pm

KT, If I had my way – and wishing for the sun, moon and stars – ordinary people would: know a lot more about the organization/structure of politics; be a lot more interested; keep informed much more than they do; many more ordinary people get actively involved; actually get out and vote; and, run and get elected.

Actual participation is low ( county organizations do not have many participants); voting rates are very low; political parties do not have very many people who actually want to run for office.
I think that all that accounts for the lack of quality in political discourse; the lack of quality in political candidates.
Thus, we have, across the board, an appeal to the least common denominator.
I think that is obvious this election cycle; in both parties.

PBO was correct. A cure would be much greater active participation by ordinary people in the political process. If that happened, we would be able to make way.

» Posted By agrippa On April 19, 2016 @ 5:09 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7yiIefLyI

That is what the GOP will do.

Will the Democratic Party effectively engage and send them off?

» Posted By agrippa On April 19, 2016 @ 7:23 am

Adlib, tolerance is not a virtue. It is a necessity.
People seem to forget that.
People do not seem to realize, in this hyperventilating world of politics and elections, that others have their own opinions and take their own decisions. Neither one of which requires the approval of others.
One must, also,have a thick skin; this is, after all, politics. People say and do things. Those other people will be there facing you after the contest is over.
Mind your words and deeds; the bad conduct of others have little to do with your own bad conduct.
The contest between Clinton and sanders is not about policy; it is about something much basic than that. It is about: honor, prestige and position. That is why it is so intensely emotional.

Sanders or Clinton will be nominated. After the convention, comes the GOP; and, the GOP, will, most certainty, beat the long roll.
If the Democrats are not in battle order, the GOP will drive the Democrats from the field in disorder.

“The enemy is that way, son”.

» Posted By agrippa On April 19, 2016 @ 4:57 am

I will vote for the Democratic Party nominee. With no difficulty.

It is virtually axiomatic that people invest a great deal of emotion in their political views. This certainly applies among “friends” and “allies”; because they, frequently are “friends” and “allies” in name only.
People frequently have to realize who their enemy actually is – it is those people over yonder. That can be hard to accept.

Why? Because is not really about policy or ideas. It is about honor ( which does exist, although many want to deny it), prestige and position.
This means the that the argument over policy is not about that at all. It is about honor, prestige and position.

In 2016, there is very little difference between Sanders and Clinton on matters of policy. Partisans of both do not want to accept that. So be it.
All this not only applies to the contestants, it also ( perhaps, even more!!) to the “friends” of the rival candidates.
They, to, have honpr, prestige and position at stake as well.

Either Sanders or Clinton will be nominated. And, “the enemy is that way, son”.
“We must all hang together – or we shall all hang separately”.

The partisans of the losing side have to decide what they will do.
I know what I shall do.

Here I stand I can do no other.

» Posted By agrippa On April 18, 2016 @ 7:25 pm

Weekend Music Thread – Time in a Bottle

lest we forget

» Posted By agrippa On March 26, 2016 @ 2:48 pm

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» Posted By agrippa On March 26, 2016 @ 2:22 pm

The Cause of ISIS’ Global Terrorism Isn’t Islam…It’s Oil

What was ( and is, as it is not past) – the Arab Spring about?

Dignity and Justice. It was not about democracy, although democracy may be a result. Dignity and justice are big words; and, there is “not enough justice to go around”.

And, the Arab World is composed of people of faith. Their religion – Islam – is at the very center of their lives.
And, they are dominated by peoples that have pretty well lost their faith; and have been dominated by them for a very long time.
How did it come to this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqljJc45wjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uug1D-2_O34

Links to two interviews by Robert Fisk. Both pretty well lay out the issue.

What was the Iranian Revolution about? Dignity and Justice.
What drives Iranian foreign policy, and the Nuclear agreement? Dignity and justice.

When faced with a peoples urge for dignity and justice, what are outsiders to do? Any response must begin with the realization that is the driver.

ISIS is undiluted nihilism in the name of religion; the imposition of misery at home and the export of misery abroad. We will make you pay for what you did to us.

This will go on – as there is never enough of either dignity or justice.

» Posted By agrippa On March 24, 2016 @ 10:27 am

Robert Fisk.

Fisk is a journalist of the Independent newspaper of London. He is based in Beirut. He is very experienced and knows a great deal about the region.

http://www.independent.co.uk/author/robert-fisk

Above is a link to some of his articles. They are worth reading.
His books are quite valuable as well.

» Posted By agrippa On March 24, 2016 @ 8:48 am

There will not be a Palestinian state.
The opportunity for that was lost in 1947 with the partition of the Palestine mandate.
There was an opportunity in 1978 at Camp David. That one was lost as well.
The PLO under Arafat managed to antagonize all his Arab “allies”.
The Palestinian Arabs were very ill served by their “leaders” and their arab “friends”.
Unfortunately, Israel elected Natanyahu. We have to accept that. Whether we want to or not.

As for ISIS, it is exporting its’ misery. Iraq and Syria are wrecked and ISIS is ruling a charnel house. There is no easy solution when ISIS exports mass murder.

Clinton is on track to get nominated. There will have to be a reversal of fortune if Sanders is going to get nominated. Personally, I have no preference; as I am not a fan of either. I am not a fan of any politician; all are mere mortals.

» Posted By agrippa On March 24, 2016 @ 6:00 am

Got it in one, AdLib.
Some remarks to complement your article:

Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria are all ruled by tyrants; their mains supports being the Army and the Security services. The GUlf States are monarchies with the support of religion.

The opposition to the tyrants in those countries was religious; very few had a meaningful secular opposition.
Saudi derives support and legitimacy from Wahhabi clerics ( AKA “Salafi). KSA supports the export of the Wahhabi sect through the funding of religious schools in other countries.

The sack and pillage of Iraq created the social and political basis for ISIS/Islamic State. KSA, through Wahhabi/Salafi, provided the religious basis.

Those GOP people are pandering. They are blind kittens.

» Posted By agrippa On March 23, 2016 @ 3:52 am

Weekend Music Thread – Ain’t That America

» Posted By agrippa On March 20, 2016 @ 4:32 am

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» Posted By agrippa On March 19, 2016 @ 1:19 pm

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» Posted By agrippa On March 19, 2016 @ 1:13 pm

Donald Trump Accidentally Beats Himself Up At Rally

A song about Donald Trump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carly+simon+you%27re+so+vain

» Posted By agrippa On March 22, 2016 @ 6:52 am

Weekend Music Thread – Soothing the Savage Beast

» Posted By agrippa On March 12, 2016 @ 7:46 pm

» Posted By agrippa On March 12, 2016 @ 7:29 pm

» Posted By agrippa On March 12, 2016 @ 5:47 pm

» Posted By agrippa On March 12, 2016 @ 5:45 pm

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